Our Privacy/Cookie Policy contains detailed information about the types of cookies & related technology on our site, and some ways to opt out. By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use.

7 Celebrities Who Are Great Role Models for Our Girls

So often I’ll see a female celebrity (you know which ones)
behaving badly and think to myself, “Wow, she is just a horrible role model for the youth of today.” Now, I know that being a role model is not what they
signed up for when they started their career as a singer, actress or model. But
like it or not, this is part of the job, and one of the MOST important parts at
that.

As a mother of a young girl, I am not just trying to live my life to be a
good example to my daughter, but I want to expose her to women who are really
calling for positive change not just through their actions but also through their
attention to matters that, well, matter. Although our list of celebrity
role models is a short one, we have a new and impressive addition.

She was there to promote a new campaign called HeForShe, which aims to encourage men to be
active participants in the global initiative to stopping violence against
women. In her speech she stated:

"My recent research has shown me that 'feminism' has
become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists ...
Why has the word become such an unpopular one?

I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is
right that I should make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that
women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that affect my
life. I think it is right that, socially, I am afforded the same respect as
men."

Amen, sister!

She also made a call to action saying:

“In my nervousness for this speech and my moment of doubt, I told myself
firmly: If not me, who? If not now, when? ... I invite you to step forward, to
be seen and ask yourself: If not me, who? If not now, when?"

These are words our daughters, all our daughters, need to
hear.

My 8-year-old may know who Emma Watson is, but she only knows
her for her role in the Harry Potter films. Now it is my duty to properly
introduce her to not just Emma Watson the actress but Emma Watson the woman.

This got me thinking, what other celebrities are out there filling the shoes of role model in a beautiful and honest way? Here are
six that our girls should know about, not their entertainment per se, but for
the other ways they contribute and inspire.

1. Tina Fey

Photograph by Rex / Rex USA

Author, Producer, Mother and Comic

"So, my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this," she
wrote in her best-selling book "Bossypants." "When faced with
sexism, or ageism, or lookism, or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself
the following question: 'Is this person in between me and what I want to do?'
If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing
your work and outpacing people that way. Then, when you're in charge, don't
hire the people who were jerky to you." — via SheKnows

Yup, Tina Fey is a trailblazer, a smart cookie and a mom—and
hilarious. Pretty much the best combo ever.

2. Amy Poehler

Photograph by Rex / Rex USA

Author, Producer, Mother, Comic, Co-founder of Smart Girls at the Party and Amy
Poehler’s Smart Girls

“Girls have to fight against a lot of the same stuff we did growing up,” she
said about her Web series and site Smart Girls at the Party. “Peer pressure,
exploitation, etc. But what worries me the most is this trend that caring about
something isn't cool. That it's better to comment on something than to commit
to it. That it's so much cooler to be unmotivated and indifferent. Our culture
can get so snarky and ironic sometimes and we kind of wanted Smart Girls to
celebrate the opposite of that.” — via Feminist.com

Amy takes her fame (and humor) and created a site that "celebrates
extraordinary girls who are changing the world by being themselves." She
isn’t just a role model for her accomplishments but actually shares a
role-model agenda with celebrating all sort of awesomeness.

“I’m not uncomfortable with it,” she explains about being a role model to young
girls. “You have to be conscious of that. If you’re choosing to put out music
and be out there in the public, you have to be conscious of the fact that you
are a part of the raising of the next generation and you do have an impact on
that. So, choose your outfits and your words and your actions carefully. I
think it matters. I think it really does. You can pretend it doesn’t, but it
does.” — via Taste of Country

I love how, at such a young age, Taylor Swift totally gets it. Especially since
a major part of her fan base are young girls and teens. She doesn’t have any
“scandals,” and we haven’t seen her have behaving badly like so many of her
peers in the music industry. Plus, she rocks.

4. Jessica Alba

Photograph by Instagram

Actress, Mother and Co-Founder of Honest Company

"When I was first auditioning, I had to work hard to win roles and
overcome a lot of rejection. I’m Hispanic and looked a little different, which
made it more difficult to get accepted. But I didn’t let that affect me. I
learned to fight for what I wanted in life, to stand up for myself and not take
crap from anyone. That experience made me stronger."

Jessica Alba doesn’t just stand up for herself these days, but she also stands
up for families everywhere with her Honest Company line of family-friendly
products. She saw a need, thought of a solution and a company (a hugely
successful company) was born.

5. Angelina Jolie

Photograph by Getty Images

Actress, Director, Mother and Humanitarian

Angelina Jolie is even a role model for OTHER role models.

"My role model is Angelina Jolie,” Jessica Alba said.
"She's so beautiful and has an incredible career. People talk more about
her film career and her humanitarian work than about her looks."

Angelina Jolie may be pretty, but that really is the least
of her positive qualities. She has been on field missions to refugee camps in
over 30 countries, including such locales as Lebanon, Darfur, Sudan and Congo.
Jolie has also started foundations to help those in need like the Maddox
Jolie-Pitt Foundation (in Cambodia), the Maddox Chivan Children's Center (also
in Cambodia), the Jolie-Pitt Foundation (which aids humanitarian causes
worldwide) and she opened an all-girls school in Afghanistan. She does all
that, with a fulfilling career, while raising a large family (admittedly with a
lot of help). She isn’t just a role model for our girls but for us all.

“I like her so much. She’s me!” Kristen Bell said of Anna.
“She’s who I wanted to see. She’s really who I, as a little girl, wanted on the
screen for me. Someone who was goofy and bizarre and makes silly and dorky
decisions, just like I did."

"I’m excited that this will be a movie my daughter will see
and that it’s modernized,” she added about her daughter Lincoln. “In case she’s
as goofy as I was when I was a kid, she’ll be able to have someone to look up
to.”

It’s someone soooo many girls
look up to. Kristen Bell really was thrust into all our daughter’s worlds when
she took on that role in "Frozen." And
while our kids may not know the name Kristen Bell, they certainly know her work.

Kristen dedicates her spare time to her charity work
including Invisible Children, charity:water, Red Cross and the Alzheimer’s
Association. She has also been very involved in trying to get protections for
the children of celebrities, and while this isn’t something that affects us
all, it is a worthy mission.